The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-02-24
TOBACCO PLANTS.
How to Grow and have plenty
of them.

VA lAA1hs
The Practical Method Of Ketucky
Farmer.
A Tobacco grower, in a cores
pondence to the Georgetown Ky,
Tunes, of January 10th, gives his
practical method of producing good
and healthy plants, as follows:
THE CAUSE OF AN UNEVEN AND RAGGED
CROP.
There is probably no one subject
connected with the cultivation oil
tobacco upon which there is a greater
diversity of opinion among producers
than there is upon the subject of pre-
pairing plant beds. Every farmers
success with tobacco depends in a
very large measure upon his success
in raising an abundant supply of early,
healthy and vigorous plants. With
the late device of canvassing the beds
failures have become less frequent, but
in the same proportion planters have
become more careless also, and while
they nearly all generally have enough
plants, they are of such poor quality
that frequently third and sometimes
even fourth setting is required in
order to obtain a regular stand, and
as consequence an uneven and rag
ged crop follows.
1t is impossible to obtain good re-
suits from field where there is from
two to four weeks difference in the age
of plants growing promiscuously
amongst each other, and it becomes a
matter of the utmost importance to
have the quality as well as the quanti-
ty of plants.
TOO MUCH PLANT BED sOwE.
Now there are prevailing in the
White Burley districts, very liberal
ideas in regard to the area of ground
sown in plant beds, in many cases
reaching as high as 400 square feet for
every acre of land to be planted,
which, upon the basis of 6,2a3 plants
to the acre, the rows being 81 feet
apart and the plants two feet apart in
the rows, would be an allowance of
nine square inches of room for every
plant in the plant bed. This is costly
in the amount of bed room to be pre-
pared; costly in the amount of canvas
required, and costly in the amount of
labor required to keep down the weeds
and to keep it properly watered during
dry seasons. Now, one square, ten
feet each way, contains 14,4oo square
inches, and my object now is to state
how that amount of ground may be
made to start nine tobacco plants to
The square inch, making grand total
Of 100000.
HOW TO PREPARE PLANT BEDS.
Dig a pit IS inches deep, feet
vide, and 1625 feet long early in
February, and fill in the bottom of it
| layer of straw about four inches
leep, and on top of this put layer
If fresh stable manure about 10 inches
1eep, and lastly layer of fresh woods
Earth inches deep. Cover it closely
% keep dry and allow it to stand two
weeks, by which time the warmth
rom the manure will have sprouted
Ill the weed seeds in the earth on top,
when it may be thoroughly raked on
op to kill all of the growing weeds.
Fork thoroughly and make the surface
smooth with the pressure of
| plank. Sow evenly upon the
surface one tablespoon heaping full of
choice seed upon it, and do not rake
hem in, but moisten the top of bed
we'll with moderately hot water from a
pot, and Immediately can
,ass the bed very closely over planks
en- inches wide, set up edgewise
around the bed, and throw up dirt all
'ound the outside as high as top Of
blanks, to keep out all the surface
water from the outside. Repeat the
with milk warm water
very few days if necessary, to keep
he surface perfectly and evenly moist.
As soon as the plants begin to come
Up they will need stimulating, which
yill he best done in following manner:
Fill common water barrell two-thirds
ull of fresh stable manure, and then
i'll to the top with water and let stand
or several days. Sprinkle the plants
very few days with the water from
his barrel, and in a very short time
hey will turn to a beautiful green
:olor and grow very rapidly.
ANOTHER Plant BED TO BE PREPARED
FOR REsETTING.
You will be prepared to say that
he plants are too thick, and that II
ion't know what / am writing about,
md the last part Of your conclusion
hall not be controyerted, but unless
gou have followed the directions this
ar it is unnecessary for you to b.
any further. If the instruc-
ions have been followed, however,
he conclusion, though wrong one,